CMS is seeking to simplify the process for validating hospital accreditation surveys, according to an Aug. 22 blog post from The Joint Commission.
Historically, state agencies conducted a separate survey within 60 days of an accreditation survey to ensure the accrediting organization performed a thorough evaluation.
The new process would eliminate the need for a second survey, instead allowing the state survey team to observe the accreditation survey in real time.
"Although The Joint Commission and the state agencies have different processes and methods for conducting a survey, pilot surveys showed the teams arrived at the same conclusion relative to survey findings and overall survey outcome," Mark Pelletier, RN, chief nursing officer and COO of accreditation and certification operations at The Joint Commission, wrote in the post.
CMS' pilot program will run through Sept. 30, 2020, and be used to "supplement the existing validation survey process" until the agency can update federal regulations, Mr. Pelletier said.